Foundation

Milestones

Since our establishment in 2002, we have funded over 310 programs and awarded 775+ grants, scholarships and prizes that have benefited thousands of individuals in more than 55 countries.

2011

• OSAF assets exceed $5 million USD
• Successfully completed a campaign to rename and fully fund the
  OSA Leadership Award in memory of Robert E. Hopkins
• Established the Boris P. Stoicheff Memorial Scholarship in
  partnership with the Canadian Association of Physicists
• Partnered with Coherent, Inc. and Edmund Optics on
  the “Adopted-A-Chapter” program
• Established a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the International Commission for Optics (ICO) which allows charitable donations made to the OSA Foundation to be earmarked for ICO outreach activities

2010

• Collaboration with the Rochester Museum and Science Center
  in support of “Light Here | Light Now”
• Thousands of telescopes distributed to students around the
  globe through the “Galileoscope Challenge”
• Greater Milwaukee Foundation awarded OSAF a grant
  in support of the “Galileoscope Challenge”
• New OSAF website launched

2009

• OSAF assets reach $4.3 million USD
• G. Michael Morris appointed Chair
• Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light exceeds 65,000 downloads 217 programs and 298 grants/prizes in over 54 countries awarded (2003 - 2009)

2008

• Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition established at OFC/NFOEC
• Harvey M. Pollicove Memorial Scholarship established
• Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light wins the Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award
• Maiman Student Paper Competition established at CLEO/QELS

2007

• Assets exceeded $3.5 million USD
• Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light, published in
  partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA
• Herbert Walther Award established with the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft to recognize distinguished
  contributions in quantum optics and atomic physics as well as leadership in the international scientific community

2006

• Emmett N. Leith Medal established to recognize seminal contributions to the field of optical information processing
• Established a collaboration with the National Coalition of Girls Schools
• Awarded grant to Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center in
  support of a permanent Optics & Vision exhibit

2005

• Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award established to recognize authorshipof an outstanding book in the field of optics and photonics
• 53 programs and 172 grants/prizes in over 26 countries awarded (2003 - 2005)

2004

• Custodianship of the OSA Awards and Honors portfolio initiated
• OSA Board of Directors voted to provide 100% matching for OSAF donations
• “2016 Centennial Fundraising Plan” approved

2003

• Grant process established, 14 programs funded
• Optics Trust established

2002

• OSA Foundation established as a charitable organization with five Founding Donors
• OSAF Board of Directors formed, Gary Bjorklund appointed Chair